Free We're Just Friends: Short Story Prequel to Pam of Babylon #8 by Suzanne Jenkins

Wednesday, August 26
    Hello Sandra,
    Pam has mentioned your name so many times, I feel we know each other. It might seem odd to you that I’m writing the best friend of my fiancée, but it was actually her idea. She felt it might help us to get to know each other, but I have an ulterior motive. Because of it, I am going to ask you to keep what we discuss confidentially.
    Pam’s trust issues are no surprise to you I’m sure. Not long into our relationship, it was clear it was going to take work to get her to believe in me. I’m hoping that as you get to know me, you’ll be able to encourage her to have faith that I’m not going to betray her.
    What I’m up against is illustrated perfectly by something that happened last weekend. On Friday morning, I left Philadelphia and drove to Jeff’s house in Babylon. Pam and I spoke briefly by phone Thursday and confirmed that we would spend Saturday and Sunday going to several flea markets on the island. Earlier that week, I made plans to have dinner with a friend of my late wife who also lost her spouse a few years ago. We are friends only, I have no romantic feeling for Joyce or I would have been in a relationship with her instead of with Pam. It never occurred to me not to dine with Joyce. She was with Emily at the end of her life, supporting my children and me after Emily’s death. We’ve continued to have dinner just to catch up every few months when she’s in Babylon to visit her sister and I’m at Jeff’s house.
    I arrived midafternoon with time to unpack, get a run on the beach and shower before dinner. Once again, it never occurred to me to call Pam because I had just talked to her the night before. We planned on an early breakfast Saturday before leaving for the market. I was looking forward to relaxing Friday after having dinner with an old friend. The weekend would be exhausting, going full speed ahead with Pam.
    You’ve known Pam for years. Does she ever stop? She’s like a machine, constantly moving. She works out daily. There’s not a second wasted the moment she wakes up until it’s time for bed. I’ll admit that it is often difficult for me to keep up with her. I know I’m lucky to be with someone as dynamic as Pam. But it’s human nature to feel inferior because she’s so accomplished. My daughter, Jane would disagree.
    “Exactly what does Pam do all day, Dad? You were a doctor, for heaven sake! You did something with your life.” I am telling you this because I think it will help you to have insight into our relationship, not to disparage Pam.
    Anyway, I was running on the beach and I thought I saw her up ahead with her back to me, straw hat on, picking up trash and findings on the beach. It probably sounds unkind, but I wasn’t in the mood to explain why I was in Babylon a day early. I needed a break, I wasn’t trying to hide something from her. There’s was a staircase up to the street, so rather than engage her, I turned and ran to the stairs. Well, she saw me. She must have just turned her head as I ran off.
    “Jason! Is that you?” She shouted it out; the surprise in her voice was bordering on disbelief. Resigned, I turned back and jogged down the sand dune to her.
    “Hi,” I said, kissing her on the cheek. I realized she’d pulled back from me a little. She was not happy.
    “I didn’t expect you today,” she said. She was breathing hard, her nostrils flaring with each breath. It scared me, a sign of someone in respiratory distress. But it was her anger bubbling over.
    “I’m sorry, Pam. I came a day early just to chill out. I should have said something to you.”
    “Was it my imagination, or were you trying to run away?” She’d got me there. I decided I had to be honest with her.
    “I’m so sorry. I saw you and I didn’t feel like explaining myself. I know that sounds disrespectful.”
    “Disrespect I can deal with. You didn’t want to see me after we haven’t seen each other in five days. You see me and run? Oh my